George Cook baptized Mitcheldean 1829 (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, August 12, 2012, 19:00 (4489 days ago) @ unknown

Hi,
many thanks to you for your kind words, not everyone takes the time & effort so it's even more appreciated than you might imagine. I'm glad that you have found this forum a usefull reference tool in itself before posting your query, it seems many don't realise the full benefits of this great website. I'm especially pleased my efforts were a help, they were a pleasure as a little off the norm, it was just frustrating that I don't have subscription to the major websites so couldnt give more complete answers. (I use both Ancestry & FMP for free at our local public library).
I was disappointed I couldn't find any records of the Cook's actual travel & entry into the USA, despite searching for this on LDS and using the Ancestry free-search facility for clues. I wonder if you have already found these, perhaps via FindMyPast, if so I'd be interested if you could perhaps share them ?. As you know your findings could well be of great interest to other researchers now or in the future.
Once again thanks for your update, good luck with your continued success.
Jeff.

PS George & James Cook, Blacksmiths.

You are probably aware that such skilled tradesman as these were usually listed in the Trade Directories, a usefull way of tracking people thro time as well as the Census'. George is listed in the 1844 Edition of Pigot's Directory of Gloucestershire, as Blacksmith in Mitcheldean.

See this superb free website to read scans of the actual Directories for the whole UK across the C19 & early C20th. http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/index.asp
When searching your chosen Directory on this site don't overload the search engine, eg just search the placename "Mitchel Dean" (important, won't find Mitcheldean as one word in this instance, it will only find exact matches for the old type) then flog thro the various "hits". You can view & then save pages as pdf files.
Hopefully the two pages for the Mitcheldean entry are still here (?)
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/exe/wwt.dll/pdf?fn=e:\hdapps\00008f9z.pdf
http://www.historicaldirectories.org/exe/wwt.dll/pdf?fn=e:\hdapps\00008fa0.pdf

I have tried using the Historical Directories site to find Geo Cook in Welland, Malvern & Derby in the appropriate issues, but without success unfortunately.

An easier way is to use the various transcript sites such as on this site which lists a Thomas Cook as Mitcheldean Blacksmith, http://www.forest-of-dean.net/?Kellys_Directory_1879

or a wider selection is at
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cbennett/index.htm

You will find James (& William) Cook listed in most issues for Mitcheldean thro the mid 1800s.